Three boaters were uninjured when their canoe overturned in the Saco River during a thunderstorm last Thursday.

Biddeford Deputy Fire Chief Scott Gagne said rescue crews were called to the Saco River near Lafayette Street when a witness reported three people were in the water. The three adults were taken aboard the fire department’s boat and dropped off at the Saco Yacht Club.

Gagne said the boaters were wearing life jackets and did not sustain any injuries.

“The storm was going pretty good when they tipped and they were shaken up,” he said.

Court upholds ruling against oil dealer

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court last week unanimously upheld a ruling against a former Biddeford oil dealer accused of failing to deliver on pre-paid heating oil contracts.

The court on July 5 upheld a requirement that Nicholas Curro and his three companies – Veilleux Oil and Service Inc., Perro Fuel Inc., and Price-Rite Fuel Inc. – pay $394,000 in restitution to more than 300 customers who did not receive oil in winter 2007 and 2008.

York County Superior Court Justice G. Arthur Brennan last year approved an agreement that also includes a $250,000 fine and prohibits Curro from entering into prepaid oil deals for the next five years. The fine will be reduced to $25,000 if restitution is made within five years.

The businesses appealed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court under the argument that the attorney general failed to provide 10-day notice prior to filing its complaint.

They also argued the lower court made a mistake in imposing a civil penalty when Curro did not intentionally violate the state’s unfair trade practices law.

The justices found there was ample evidence to support the lower court’s finding that Curro acted intentionally. They also found there was an exception to the 10-day notice requirement due to affidavits filed by the attorney general in support of a temporary restraining order.

Men face charges for damaged table

Two men were charged with operating under the influence and criminal mischief after they allegedly vandalized a checkers table at Memorial Park in Old Orchard Beach.

Old Orchard Beach Deputy Police Chief Keith Babin said a witness called police around 5 a.m. July 9 to report two men were damaging a concrete table used for checkers and chess.

The men had left by the time officers arrived, but the witness provided descriptions of their cars. Police stopped one car on Portland Avenue and the other on Saco Avenue.

George Parsons III, 19, of Buxton, and Dylan Wood, 19, of Sanford, each were charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and criminal mischief. They are expected to appear in Biddeford District Court Sept. 14.

Public Works Director Bill Robertson said the table, which was near the gazebo, weighs about one ton. He said the table was destroyed when the suspects allegedly tipped it over.

Robertson said it could cost $3,000 to replace the table.

Meeting planned for South Street area

Residents and property owners of the South Street neighborhood in Biddeford are invited to a neighborhood meeting July 20.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church on Crescent Street. It is sponsored by Biddeford’s Community Development Office and Christ Episcopal Church.

Linda Hardacker, community development director, said the meeting will provide an update on the Williams Court Park project, South Street block party and collect input on the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

The neighborhood includes South, Green, Kossuth, Crescent, Center, Wentworth, Graham, Jefferson and Elm streets and Williams Court. Residents are invited to bring a snack to share, but that is not required to attend the meeting.

Cast your vote for best trash can art

The Heart of Biddeford will host an artists’ reception Tuesday for its new “Let’s Talk Trash” project.

The organization, as part of the downtown beautification project, enlisted 12 local artists to create original paintings on the lids of downtown commercial trashcans. Artists worked under the theme “EnviroGreen.”

The lids will be on display during the reception from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Heart of Biddeford office on Main Street. Community members will vote on the trash can design that best portrays the theme. The winner will receive $100.

“Committee member Eileen Foley envisioned this project as a way to beautify downtown and bring more public art to our community, as well as to bring awareness to the importance of recycling and a healthy, clean downtown,” said Design Committee Chairman Holly Culloton. “We think community members and visitors will enjoy viewing these circles of art as they stroll down Main and Alfred streets.”

Heart of Biddeford also invites community members to become involved with projects related to downtown events, beautification and business support. For more information, call Delilah Poupore at 284-8520.

Saco plans hazardous waste disposal day

  Residents of Old Orchard Beach, Saco and Scarborough can drop off hazardous waste this weekend at Saco Public Works.

The drop-off will be 8 a.m. to noon at 351 North St. in Saco. Proof of residency is required.

Accepted items include fluorescent bulbs, moth balls, drain cleaners, furniture polish, metal polish, photo chemicals, spot remover, floor cleaner, upholstery cleaner, button batteries, rechargeable batteries, old chemistry sets, rust inhibitors, wood preserve, wood strippers, wood stain, paint thinner, solvents, oil-based paint, degreasers, sealants, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, chlordane, insect sprays, rodent killers, no-pest strips, pool chemicals, antifreeze, brake fluid, engine degreaser, gasoline and kerosene.

– Compiled by Staff Writer

Gillian Graham